Tractor-mounted lister



Feb- 9, 1954 w. H. SILVER ET AL E 2,668,489

TRACTOR-MOUNTED LISTER Filed Dec. 29, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l WALTER H. SILVER WILLIAM V. LOH MAN Feb 9, 1954 w. H. SILVER ET AL TRACTOR-MOUNTED LISTER -l?. Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 29, 1949 n $5@ mm Patented Feb. 9, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcr.g

2,668,489 TRACTOR-MOUNTED LISTER Y Walter H. Silver, Moline, Ill., and William V.

' Lohrman, Davenport, Iowa, assignors to Deere & Company, Moline, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application December 29, 1949, Serial No. 135,642 3 Claims. (Cl. 97e47.12)

The present invention relates generally to agricultural implements and more particularly-to tractor-mounted, ground-working implements, such as listers, bedders and the like.`

The object and general nature of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved lister or bedder of the tractor-mounted or integral type especially constructed and arranged for quick attachment to or disconnection from its supporting tractor. `More particularly, it is a feature of this invention to provide a lister or bedder having new and improved means for controlling the depth of operation of the lister or bedder bottoms, and still further, it is a feature of this invention to provide raising and lowering mechanism operative through one range for adjusting the depth of operation of the tools or bottoms and operative through another range to raise the tools or bottoms into ya raised or transport position.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a tractor-mounted lister or bedder in which the principles of the present invention have been incorporated.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the implement shown in Figure 1. 'f Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view Aof a portion of the structure by which the implement is connected to a propelling tractor.

Referring now more particularly'to Figures l and 2, the tractor isv indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral l and includes a pair of closely spaced front wheels 2 and a pair of wide spaced rear traction wheels 3 mounted on axle shafts 4 that are carried in extensions 5 forming a part of the rear axle structure 6 of the tractor. The tractor includes a power plant 1 and a power lift unit 8 of the hydraulic type, including suit-v able valve mechanism V and other necessary parts, such as a pair of lift arms Il which are clamped or otherwise xed in any suitable manner to the ends of a power lift rockshaft 20 which.k

forms a part of the hydraulic unit 8. The arms I I provide means whereby a power operating connection may be made with vagricultural implements of various kinds, such as for example, a lister or bedder. i

The lister or bedder implement, with which the present invention is more particularly 'concerned, is indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 30 and comprises right-` and lefthand implement units 3l and '32. Since for all practical purposes these implement units 3l and 32 are identical, except that certain parts may be right-hand or left-hand, as the case may be, a detailed description of the right-hand unit 3l will sui'lice for a full and complete understanding of the implement units.

As best shown in Figures 1 and 2 the righthand implement unit includes a right-hand push bar 35, the rear end 36 of which is bent so as to extend laterally inwardly While the forward end of the bar 35 is bent so as tol extend laterally outwardly, as shown at 31. A bracket structure 38 is pivotally connected with or mounted'on the outturned end 31 of the push bar 35 and includes a pair of laterally spaced-apart bracket plates 4! and 42 secured, as by welding, to a sleeve member 43 which receives and is rockably mounted on the outturned push bar end 3l. `A ground-working tool 44, such as a lister plow having a lister plow bottom 45, is swingably connected with the forward end 3l of the push bar 35 and includes a main plow beam 46 and a laterally inwardly extending brace beam 4l secured rigidly at its rear end to the beam 46, the beams 46 and 4l being apertured at their forward ends to receive the laterally outturned push bar portion 31 with the bracket sleeve member 43 dis# posed therebetween. The laterally spaced bracket plates 4l and 42 are extended upwardly by any suitable means, such as an integral extern sion 48 in the case of the bracket plate 42 and a pair of hammer strap members 49 in the case of the bracket plate 4l. The bracket plate extension 48 is apertured to receive a pivot 5! by which an`overload release unit 52 is pivotally connected with the bracket 42, the rear end of the 'unit 52 being connected by a pivot 53 to a pair of lugs 54 secured, as by welding, to the main plow beam 46. The overload release unit 52 `is similar to or substantially the same as the overload release unit shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,337,026, issued December 21, 1943, to John I. Cantral, to which reference may be made if necessary. As long as the release unit 52 is in its normal operating position, as shown in Figure 1, the furrow opener unit 44 is connected rigidly with the bracket structure 38.

The laterally inturned end portions 36 at the rear of the implement are received for inde-` pendent movement within a transverse tubular member 53 which forms a part of the attaching structure, indicated in its entirety by the referencenumeral 59. The inturned end portions 36 of the push bars are held against lateral displacement in the tubular member 53 by pins extending through slots '56 in the tubular member 58 and 65, each member 65 having a lowermost lip4` 19" or extension 66 and both members |54 and 5.51pm-, viding forwardly facing sockets B'i n'whicli'the associated end portion of the-attaching--tubnlar member 58 is disposed. The: upper; and-alower portions of each of the socketmembersz..Efizand 65 are apertured to receive quick detachable lock ing pins BB which serve to hold the member-.58am position in the sockets 8T. Ea'clisuppo'i'tiifi'g'pla'te^ 62 is reenforced by an outer diagonally? disposedstrap member H which is welded at its lower end to the U-shaped socket member 65 and; at,r its upper end is` adapted to receive a studffwhich connects the brace member rig-idly to .theassocia-ted tractor'axle extension-5z Each of; the outer endportions of-'the tubular member 58 has apa-incl? upwardly extending oars I-secured thereto; asby welding, the lower ends o fthebars 15 being aperturedto permit their being passed onto--the-associated end-o-thetubu'- larnfierriber-y 58;y Fixed to theupwardly-extending barsf is` apair of l hammer-- straps 16.' which at their upperends are` apert-ured` tof receive the trunnions H of afblock member i8-towhicn the rear -end 'offaf stabilizing link 3i i is pivotally connected for Vlateral 'swinging-movement'. The 'for'- Wardend' of the-link 8|= is-'threadedito receivei a pain of lock nuts 8% disposed-' on-.opposite sides of a sleeve-member 8-3 which'ismminted byrtrun'- nions vllfor -lateralfmovemenp relative-'toaecon'- necting yokemember 85.` which` is` swivel-ed trunnions- B5 in the' upper endso'f the` bracket extensionstrap [te: The supporting; bracket members l5; 16' are heldrigidly' iniupriglitvrelaftion relative tothe tractor byf a'strutillilliwhichlis connected ati-'its io'iwar'dfend'to the :bars'f fb-,vi the upperj bolts which' connect the" straps '161 to the bars '|5.V At-'its reari endeach ofthe-:struts 88` isf connected rigidly tof the tractor" 'by' a stud 89 which` is threaded into` one' of thef verti-l cally extending apertures in thea'ssociatedrean axle extensionS'.

By virtue5 ofthe structure s'o far described; eaclr of thev lister orbedd'er bottomsflf is'fcorii' necte'd rigidly to` asupporting bracket structure' 38which is connected with the'r'ear'axl dfi he propelling tractor by means' of rearwardly' diver gjing, generally vertically spacedlinlsfad'll which,v converging forwardly, provide a virtual hitch poitior' 'thet'oolY 45 which; is loc'atedivili-:fil` aheadlof the tractor. The overload releas'eriiiits" 52fprotectT-tl tools 45 when they str'ike'a'n ob# struction or thelik.

Eachof the furrow openers oi" ground-working' movement in apertures formed in the supporting bracket plates 4| and 42 and to which the arm |05 is rigidly connected as by welding. The gauge wheel unit |03 also includes an upwardly extending arm |01 which is xed at its lower end to the shaft |06 generally alongside the arm |05. To'vary theflateral spacing of' the gauge wheel HH' relative to the associatedtooli the arm |02 may be connected to the arm |05 on either the inner side or the outer side thereof.

According to the provisions of the present involition; the adjusting of the gauge wheels ||l| relativeto theassociated furrow openers 45 and thetraisingfand lowering of the implement units 3F and32f'irelative-to the tractor are effected by suitable connections to the power lift arms To thisiend, a sleeve member I is securely weldedat itslaterally outer end portion to each of thefpusli bars 35, generally adjacent the forward portion thereof, and each sleeve member is reenforced rby ai-bracing'plate l 2-which is welded alongfitsfupper edge-to the lower;portions ofsfthe associated sleeves lil and at itsflaterallyouter end to the adjacent portionso the'associated f push-bar 352i A transverselyl disposedshaft H4 reieasabiyreceive'selected links-pf the gssociated chains |38: Eacli angle member V|42`= is reen? forcedfby' bracing structurev |113; and the laterally inner ends of theangle membersv i .152 'aretied' toL gethe'r-byra straplmember |46. The'I anglelm'emL4 bers |425 a'nld7ortheY bracing structures |33" are' securely" bolted to" suitable points" on tlie" tractor body, for example, to the side'portionsof the clutch housing' by attaching" bolts |482 The oper'atio'riof;tlienipleinentdesciibed 'above is substantially .asfollows Titelseite. are illustrated@ Figure 1i ini-.heir-V normal working position in which,'it will be noted', the position-of the'gauge wheel 'IUI' relativeto the furrow opener 45 is controlled by the position 'of the tractor power lift arm Il, The tractor power lift 8 is preferably of such `construction that the arms 'may be disposed in any oner of several selected positions or may be swung downwardly and rearwardly, as shown in Figurel, to lift the tools as well as the gauge wh'eelsout of engagement with the groundfand intoa position for transport. Also,` the power 'liftA structure is of such construction that counterclockwise movement of the shaft and arms ||'(Figur'e l) is prevented butfclockwise movement of the arms may take place.

Looking at Figure l, any tendency for -the-furrow opener 45 to run too deep is prevented by means of the gauge wheel r| 0|, although both may move vertically relative to the tractor by `virtue of vvertical swinging movements of themembers and 8|. -The gauge wheel |U| limits the downward movement of the furrow opener since the power lift structure, including the arms cooperating with the stops |29 on the swinging links |28, effectively prevent any forward movement of the links |26,vand the latter, in turn, prevent any clockwise movement of the arms I|5 and |23 and the associated shaft ||4, which, in turn, acts through the associated link IIB to prevent any clockwise movement of the gauge wheel arms |02, |05 and |01. Thus, as the tractor approaches and passes over a rise in the ground surface, the gauge wheel |U| moves upwardly and, in doing so, lifts the associated tool 45 so as to maintain a substantially constant depth of operation. However, if, for example, the gauge wheel |0| should encounter and momentarily enter a depression in the ground, the wheel |U| is free to move downwardly without causing or tending to cause the associated tool 45 to increase its depth of operation since relatively free downward movement of the gauge wheel |U| is momentarily accommodated since the associated link |26 may move freely rearwardly relative to the power lift arm by virtue of the swinging link |28 and its f ability to swing rearwardly relative to the arm Thus, the links |26 are permitted to shift freely rearwardly even through the power lift Varm may be on a dead-center relationship, or the links |26 and |28 connected to a power lift structure in which the power lift arms are held against movement in either direction in operation position.

When the parts are arranged as shown in Figure 1, the power lift arms may be operated so as to raise and lower the gauge wheels |U| relative to the associated lister bottoms'for controlling or varying the depth of operation of the latter.

In order to raise the tools and the gauge wheels relative to the tractor for purposes of transport and the like, the power lift valve V is operated so as to cause the arms to swing clockwise' (Fig. l) through their full extent. This exerts a rearwardly directed pull through the links |26 against the arms |23 which, in turn, causes the shafts I I 4 and arms ||5 to be rotated in a clockwise direction (Figure 1) swinging the lift arms |24 downwardly relative to the push bars 35 and associated tools and gauge wheels. After the normally existing slack in the chains |38, which is necessary to provide for controlling the gauge wheels |U| by the tractor power lift to effect depth adjustments, is taken up, further downward movement of the arms |24 relative to the hitch bars 35 acts against the tractor-carried brackets |4| and results in raising the front ends of the push bars into a position for transport. Since the hitch bars 35 and upper links 8| are connected with the suppotring brackets 15, 16, at points spaced apart farther than the distance between the front ends of the push bars 35 and links 8|, the points of the furrow openers are moved rearwardly and upwardly while the gauge wheels IUI are moved generally rearwardly and downwardly, relative to the upwardly movable pushbars 35. This results in a relative lowering of the gauge wheels |U| into positions relative to the furrow openers 45 such that the gauge wheels serve to prevent the points of thefurrow openers from striking obstructions, gathering trash or the like, when transporting the outfit from one field to another. f

AThe implement of the present invention may readily be disconnected from the tractor merely by removing the quick detachable pins 68, disconnecting the chains |38 from the slots |43 and loosening the bolts connecting the forward ends of each of the struts 88 to the bracket members 'I5 and removing the attaching studs 89, thus freeing the struts 88 from the tractor axle. Then by backing the tractor slightly the transverse attaching tubulaimember 58 will slide out of 'the sockets 61 and drop to the ground. Continuing the backing of the tractor away from' the implement, the front wheels pass readily over the tubular member 58, thus releasing the tractor for other uses. Similarly, the implement may readily be reattached to the tractor simply by driving the same into position relative to the implement, then litfing the attaching tubular member 58 and placing it on the lower socket member extensions 86,

and then driving thetractor forward slightly, after which the attaching pins 68 may be inserted and the other connections with the various parts of the implements reestablished.

While we have shown and described above the preferred structure in which the principles of the present invention have been incorporated, it is to be understood that our invention is not to be limited to the exact details shown and described above, but that, in fact, widely different means may beemployed in the practice of the broader aspects of our invention.

What we claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. For use in an agricultural implement of the type adapted to be mounted on a tractor having a narrow body and a rear axle including laterally outwardly disposed extensions, and in which said implement includes a pair of push bars adapted Vto be disposed at opposite sides of the tractor body and including laterally inturned portions at the rear ends of the push bars, the improvement comprising an attaching structure including a pair of supports attachable to said tractor axle extensions and each including means providing a pair of laterally spaced apart, forwardly facing sockets, a transverse tubular member releasably disposed in said sockets and adapted to rockably receive the inturned end portions of said push bars and to be seated in said sockets, an upstanding arm fixed at its lower end to each end of said tubular member, brace means connectible between each upstanding arm and the tractor rear axle, and means carried by each of said sockets and disposable in front of the associated tubular member for releasably holding said tubular member in said sockets.

2. For use in an agricultural implement of the type adapted to be mounted on a tractor having a narrow body and a rear axle including laterally '7- rminvzairdly` disposed?extensions;andeinl whichfsaid implement includesafpairrozfpush bars adaptedzto lo'edisposed at opposite sides ofthe tractor body andf including laterally inturned portions at the rear endsof the' pushbars; Abracket Ymeans pivotedto the front ends ofsaid push barst ground working tool means connected to said bracket means, and stabilizing links4 disposed` above said-push bars and extendingA rearwardly from said-.bracket means, the improvement comprising an attaching structure including a pair of supports attachable to said tractor axle extensions and including means providing forwardly-facing sockets, a transverse tubular member adapted to rockablv receive the inturned end portionsv of said push bars andtobe seated' in said sockets, means carried by said sockets `and engageable with the forward portions of said tubular member"'for holdingY the latter in saidv sockets, upwardly` extending part's iixed at theirv lower ends to the end portions of said tub'ui'arV member; means' connectible between each upstanding part and the tractor rear axle fonholding said tubu`.- lar, member against rotation in said sockets, means for pivotally'connecting the rearv ends of said links to the upper end portions of said'parts', and means carried by said tubular member'and engageable, respectively, with laterally spaced apart' portions of said push bars for detachably holding said intumed 1pusrbar endi portions: in different` lateral; positions, ini ,ther ends off said tubularfmember.

3; TheY invention set,- forth-inclaim 2; further c'zharacterizersiA by raising means adapted to--be mounted oneach ofsaidpush bars, a transverse part adapted to bemounted on-thetractor-l in-a position above said raising means, and means engageable with said-transverse part'at different laterally spaced apartfpoints -for-connectingeach raisingl means withY the associated end vof` said transverse `part in diifer'ent` lateral positionsfcorresponding tothe different lateral-'positions-fat which the rear. endsoi said push bars may be connected with the end portions of said tubular member. Y

WALTER Smiles?,

References cited? mi die nie off this patent"v UNiTED STATES-PATENTS 

